Sesame Street’s Alaina Reed Dies

Alaina Reed, known to millions as Sesame Street’s Olivia, has died of breast cancer in Los Angeles.

Previously known as Alaina Reed Hall, she remarried in 2008. Her stage credits include “Chicago” and “Hair.” She appeared in several movies, including “Cruel Intentions” and “Death Becomes Her,” and in guest-starring roles on numerous TV shows such as “ER,” “NYPD Blue,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Ally McBeal.” Reed-Amini joined the “Sesame Street” cast in 1976 and played Olivia, a photographer and sister of the character Gordon. She remained on the show until 1988. She starred on NBC’s “227” from 1985 to 1990, playing the landlady and best friend of the show’s main character. On the show’s final season, Reed-Amini married a character played by her real-life husband, Kevin Peter Hall, who died in 1991.

I loved her on 227. Here’s a great clip from Sesame Street.